Before we get to today’s scheduled post, I just feel like I need to take a moment and acknowledge the loss of lives yesterday at the Boston Marathon; some meeting death, others facing a life very much unlike the one they had previous to the race. Lost limbs, lost love ones, lost hope….all things that require a time of mourning.
It is my utmost prayer, that on their knees in their agony, they find Jesus. That they feel His gentle touch as He gathers them in His arms of love. The world we live in, is a dark, scary, sinful place….but friends, we always have hope in Jesus. In His promise of eternal life after death, in one day coming back and rescuing the lost, taking His children home to be with Him in Paradise. Oh, how glorious that day will be…….until then, do not lose heart, for He has overcome the world!
John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Now, on to today’s previously scheduled post:
Notice something new in my kitchen?
Ok, ok, you are right. That Kraft Cheese Box didn’t used to be there. A new antique find from a friend, but nope….that’s not it. It’s higher up on the shelf…..
You found it!
The Yell Jar
So at our house, we work a lot on FIRST time obedience. There are seasons of life we all do better about this. Lately, I have been losing my cool with the kids.
“I told you to do the DISHWASHER! WHY IS NO ONE OUT HERE DOING IT!?!?!?!?!??!”
My point could be gotten across just as sweetly, had I walked into the playroom and reminded them to come do it. This action would be followed up, by giving them all a strike on the Strike Board, because SLOW obedience is the same as NO obedience.
Dale reads through the board at the end of the day and we talk about the choices that were made, and we discipline accordingly if someone got 3 strikes, or reward accordingly for 3 stars that are a sign of GOOD behavior.
As you can see, Tylan had slow obedience this morning when I asked him to go get his shoes on and make his bed before school.
Anyhow, back to the topic at hand, yelling.
Honestly, I get lazy at times, and its easier to holler across the house, or get their attention by yelling my instructions again, LOUDLY this time!
Dale found himself doing the same thing, sooo, he came up with “The Yell Jar”. Whoever yells, puts a dollar in the jar.
HOWEVER, we have kids that forget to use inside voices, and they yell sometimes too, so at that point, THEY put a dollar in.
The only rule is, NO making someone yell by provoking!!!!! The provoker gets the dollar charge if this occurs.
So far, so good! Except if you look closely at that photo, you will notice that $2 of those $3 in there, are from me.
{SIGH}
What can I say, I am a work in progress!
KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDDDDDDDS!!!!!
IT IS TIME TO Cleannn…..
OH, er, um, I meant…….
Oh children, it’s time to clean up, please!! 🙂
~T
Someone asked a good question: What happens when the yell jar is full?
Dale says the answer is: Go out for ice cream and celebrate that we don’t holler anymore!!!!!
4 little Fergusons 
The Bombs in Boston kinda hit hard to me. First being so close to home and also I am from close by there AND my family is back there right now! But, every time I hear about this stuff I keep on thinking what is it going to take people!?!?! How hard is God going to have to make it for you all to realize!?!?! But, my heart does go out to those who lost someone or who is now going to be living life totally different then yesterday!
I LOVE the idea of a yell jar. I think we may have to add one of those to out house! But, sadly I think that this mommy is going to be the one adding a lot of the money.:( But, I think that it would be VERY good for us to have. I think I am going to work on that right now. Thanks for sharing. I love reading what other use in there homes for there kids and families to run smoothly.
Love and Hugs,
Kristina ❤
One of my great regrets as a mother of 6 is all the yelling I did on school mornings. Those mornings could be SO frustrating when they were moving so slowly and I was sure they were going to miss the bus. There were many days, after they were on said bus, that I wanted that morning back to start over. But some days sure seemed that was the only way to get them moving! Good luck with the Yell Jar!
P.S. My kids are wonderful adults now. They turned out great in spite of me.
This is a wonderful family idea to remind everyone that obedience is important, but so is the relationship within the family. Tone of voice must be taught by example and you are doing an awesome job!
I love this idea! I’ve been following “The Orange Rhino” on FB and she has completely eliminated yelling in her household! I desperately need to do so.
Great idea! I wasn’t a yeller when my kids were growing up, but I do think there are times our children need to hear us yell – not out of frustration, but out of importance. I’m sure your little jar will be a good reminder for all of you. You both are awesome parents…I have witnessed it for myself, in person, and appreciate all you both do to instill godly character into your children. I just reposted a sign at Facebook that is so good…it says something like…the most important thing is NOT for parents to raise godly children…but that our children have godly parents. Love that thought! God bless you on your journey. I’m sure I’m not the only one of your fans who is thankful to know you’re not perfect in every single way. =D God bless you all. XO
I love this idea. I was a yeller and I hated it. Something happened one day that scared me….I won’t share, but I found that I could control my temper. I should have had a jar…..we could have gone on a cruise around the world. Now that I’m older and wiser, I’m not a yeller at all….as you say, we are all works in progress, and a lot of work was done on me. But now I can’t stand it, if one of my children raises their voice even a little bit to their children. Now that certainly is my issue and not fair to put it upon my children, but I have to leave the room when voices are raised. All of us have regrets as parents, but we grow wiser as we grow older and mature. We also run out of energy. It doesn’t seem balanced somehow!
I think I could have used a yell jar about 10 years ago 🙂 Excellent idea!
What a great idea I wish we would have had one when my kids were growing up maybe I can pass this idea on for my grandkids!
God has been speaking to my heart on the subject of yelling as well. I have four little ones and can completely relate. I started reading Lysa Terkeurst’s new book “Unglued.” It’s sooo helpful in managing the words that come out of our mouths and how they come out. I LOVE the ldea of the “yell jar” and will implement that here. I’ve come a long way and our house is more peaceful but every once in awhile I still lose my cool or have a few days where I backslide and have to regroup. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I forgot to mention in my last comment that your words about the tragedy in Boston were beautiful and I stand in complete agreement with you in that. Praying that God will create beauty from the ashes concerning such a horrible event and many will find hope, healing and peace in Jesus.
Hi Tonya, you sound like a wonderful mom 🙂 and I do love your YELL JAR 🙂 I don’t remember if I was a yeller or not lol…..too far back…my son was in the Military and when they were raising their children, and they did something, all he had to do was say “HEY” loud like they do in the military and that was enough…..no punishment needed….and they raised 3 great daughters….one with 2 sons and they are great kids too….now don’t I sound just like a grandma ? lol…..not padding anything here tho…..